Jose Rivera and Pedro Espada have uneasy Bronx alliance

Monday, September 15th 2008, 3:50 PM

Bronx Democratic Party boss Jose Rivera (right) gives props to longtime party nemesis - and winner of state Senate primary - Pedro Espada (left).

Did anyone else feel the ground shake Saturday night?

We did, standing in a nightclub on Jerome Ave., watching Bronx Dem Party Boss Jose Rivera at the podium putting his arm around a grinning Pedro Espada, who stomped state Sen. Efrain Gonzalez in Tuesday's primary.

Given party history with the Wascally Wabbit (Pedro sat with the Republicans when last in Albany), we'd call that podium-fest akin to President Bush giving Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a buddy hug and a noogie.

"The people of this district have spoken," Jose told the victory party for Assembly candidate Nelson Castro. "Sometimes, we have disagreed with each other, but we have always respected each other [huh?]. And I am really proud [double huh?] of the real comeback kid, Pedro Espada!"

Hey, Jose told us later, "politics is politics, and we're moving on."

A lot of fingers are pointing at Jose for not supporting Efrain enough, making Espada a key tiebreaker in the evenly split Dem/GOP state Senate (see item below).

Still unknown is how the Jose/Pedro alliance(?) will affect the rebel challenge to Jose's leadership.

Pedro would only say, "now is a time for unity - and I say that without banging the drums for him or anybody else."

Rebels neck and neck?

With the Bronx Dem party trying to stay afloat from those heavy torpedo hits in Tuesday's primary, party insiders argue they have the votes to beat back a rebel challenge to Jose Rivera's leadership.

Not only did they lose Efrain Gonzalez's state Senate seat to (aaaaargh!) Pedro Espada, but their Civil Court candidate Maria Matos was clobbered by rebel candidate Elizabeth Taylor.

As the party prepares for its own elections, we'd suspect a lot of wheeling and dealing and arm-twisting going on with district leaders and key county committee members.

"Jose does not have the votes to get reelected," a neutral party source told us. "But the opposition doesn't either."

The tipping point could be who the rebels put up to replace Jose.

With a lot riding on it - not just in the Bronx, but in Albany and with the next City Council races - Jose has called the party elections for 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, at the Utopia Paradise Theatre, 2403 Grand Concourse.

'Wild Thing'

They might wanna play that tune when Pedro Espada walks back into the state Senate chamber, because both Bronx and state Democrats now have a wild card on their hands.

Pedro's playing to the hilt his potential as tiebreaker in the thisclose Dem/GOP chamber.

While the Wascally Wabbit wouldn't say what committee he wants to wangle, he told us he wants to "say a lot about the budget and the budget priorities."

Meanwhile, back in the Bronx, state Sen. Ruben (The Rev.) Diaz Sr. must be gritting his teeth that his longtime Soundview bitter political enemy is stealing the Albany tiebreaker spotlight away from him.

To which we say to the anti-gay marriage Rev., kiss and make up, and split the tab for the gas and Thruway tolls to Albany.

Espada for boro prez?

From our column of Nov. 13, 2007: "Espada thinks that if he can win the Senate seat, he adds that west Bronx voting block to his east Bronx base, effectively sidelining BP candidate Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. and presenting a formidable challenge to Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera."

Some folks still nervously recall Pedro coming within 2,000 votes of beating Bronx BP Adolfo Carrión in 2001.

But as an astute politico noted, "Pedro can't play that Republican b------t in Albany and hope to win a Democratic primary in the Bronx."

Shoot the messenger

John DeSio over at the weekly Riverdale Review tells us Jose was grumbling about the local media - us in particular - for his political tsuris. He even speculated that we give John his political spin orders.

Okay, Jose, yuh caught us! What happens is all us local media types, wearing monks' hooded robes, meet at night inside a mausoleum in Woodlawn Cemetery, with a candle burning on a skull in the middle of a pentangle on the floor, and. ...

Sorry, but news is news, and that's what the party rebellion is.

rkappstatter@nydailynews.com